Fenkle Street drill hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fenkle Street drill hall |
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| Alnwick | |
Fenkle Street drill hall, Alnwick
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 Fenkle Street drill hall
Location within Northumberland
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| Coordinates | 55°24′50″N 1°42′29″W / 55.41387°N 1.70807°W |
| Type | Drill hall |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1834 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1834-1995 |
The Fenkle Street drill hall is a special old building in Alnwick, Northumberland. It used to be a place where soldiers trained and prepared for duty. Today, it's still an important building, recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
A Building with Many Lives
The Fenkle Street drill hall has a long and interesting history. It wasn't always a place for soldiers.
From Library to Military Base
The building was first finished in 1834. Back then, it was designed to be a library. People would go there to read books and learn.
But things changed in 1887. The building was made bigger. It became the main office for a group of soldiers called the 1st Volunteer Battalion, The Northumberland Fusiliers. A "battalion" is a large group of soldiers, and "volunteers" were people who joined the army by choice.
Changes Over Time
In 1891, the main part of the 1st Volunteer Battalion moved away. They went to a different drill hall in Hexham. However, a part of the battalion, called D Company, stayed in Alnwick.
Later, this group, along with C Company and G Company, grew. In 1908, they became the 7th Battalion the Northumberland Fusiliers.
World War I and Beyond
When World War I started in August 1914, these soldiers were called into action. They gathered at the drill hall. From there, they were sent to the Western Front. This was a major battle area in Europe.
After the war, the battalion changed again. In 1969, it was made smaller. But in 1975, it was brought back as the 6th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Its main office was at Fenkle Street once more.
New Homes for Soldiers
In 1975, the battalion's main office moved again. It went to a drill hall in Berwick-upon-Tweed. But a small group of soldiers, a "rifle platoon" from W Company, stayed at Fenkle Street. A "platoon" is a small group of soldiers.
In the 1990s, even this small group moved. They went to the Lisburn Terrace Army Reserve Centre. The Army Reserve is made up of part-time soldiers.
The Building Today
After the soldiers left, the Fenkle Street building was changed. It was turned into offices. Now, it is used by the Northumberland County Council Register Office. This office handles important records like births, deaths, and marriages.
